SCERT Seeks Public Feedback on School Curriculum Draft

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Maharashtra has invited suggestions and opinions from the public on the revised school education curriculum. This step is part of the state’s efforts to bring in necessary changes to match the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The feedback link is now open to all stakeholders, including teachers, parents, students, and education experts, to share their views on how the curriculum can be improved for better learning outcomes.

I’m writing about this topic because it’s not often that regular citizens get a chance to directly contribute to what children learn in schools. Curriculum design usually stays within committees and academic bodies. But now, with SCERT inviting public feedback, every parent, teacher or student can participate in shaping future classrooms. If you’ve ever felt that textbooks are outdated, or that more practical topics need to be included, this is your chance to speak up. As someone who works closely with educational updates, I see this as a valuable opportunity for all of us to help build a more meaningful and inclusive curriculum.

Why SCERT Is Asking for Public Input

SCERT is currently working on revising the State Curriculum Framework (SCF) in alignment with the NEP 2020. This framework will influence what is taught in schools across all grades and subjects. Instead of finalising this in closed meetings, SCERT has decided to open it up for public feedback to make sure the curriculum reflects the real needs and expectations of society.

The council believes that those who are directly connected to school education—like students, teachers, parents and even employers—can offer meaningful suggestions about what works and what doesn’t in the current system.

What Areas the Feedback Will Cover

The feedback form includes various aspects of school education such as:

Language learning (regional and national languages)
Skill-based education
Environmental awareness
Integration of local culture and history
Mental health and well-being topics
Inclusion of digital literacy and financial awareness
Teaching methods and classroom practices

There is also a section where you can write your own suggestions freely. This makes the process open-ended and inclusive.

How to Share Your Suggestions

The feedback is being collected online, and the form is available in both English and Marathi. Here’s how you can participate:

Visit the official SCERT Maharashtra website
Look for the section on curriculum feedback
Fill out the Google Form with your suggestions
Submit before the deadline (the last date will be updated on the website)

This process will take just 10–15 minutes but can make a lasting impact.

Why This Move Is Important for the Future of Education

When curriculum changes are made without real feedback, they often miss ground realities. For example, many schools struggle to implement topics that are too theoretical or disconnected from everyday life. Similarly, practical subjects like entrepreneurship, mental health awareness, or basic law and rights are still missing or under-taught in many schools.

By asking for public input, SCERT is showing a shift towards participatory policymaking in education. This is in line with the NEP 2020 vision, which encourages flexibility, inclusion, and real-world readiness in school education.

What You Can Do

If you are a:

Parent: Talk to your child and share what you think should be added or removed from the syllabus
Teacher: Suggest changes that make lessons more engaging or relevant
Student: Highlight topics that interest you or feel missing in class
General citizen: Share your view on what today’s students need to learn to be better prepared for life and work

Even if you’re not from Maharashtra, this model of open feedback may be adopted by other states too. So your participation helps strengthen this idea across India.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.